SWIMMING IN MONEY: Your MP is Assured of Getting Shs415m Even Before Swearing in. And Taxpayers Will Pay

Parliament of Uganda pictured in a recent sitting. Courtesy Photo

Members of Uganda’s incoming 12th Parliament are set to receive a massive financial package totaling approximately Shs415 million each—before they even take the oath of office—raising fresh concerns about public spending and priorities.

The windfall is composed of two major components: a Shs100 million cash “gift” promised by President Yoweri Museveni during the ruling party’s Kyankwanzi retreat, and a Shs315 million taxpayer-funded vehicle allowance approved under the national budget.

The vehicle grant alone will cost Ugandan taxpayers about Shs166.8 billion for all 529 MPs in the 2026/2027 financial year. The allocation marks a significant increase from the Shs200 million each legislator received in the 11th Parliament, reflecting rising vehicle costs and inflation pressures. (See related reporting Here).

The funds are intended to enable MPs to carry out their legislative, oversight, and constituency duties more efficiently, with Parliament arguing that providing a one-off vehicle grant is cheaper than maintaining a government fleet. However, critics say the move places an unnecessary burden on taxpayers at a time when the country faces competing demands in health, education, and infrastructure.

When combined with the Shs100 million cash pledge made at Kyankwanzi—largely benefiting MPs aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement—the total payout rises to roughly Shs415 million per legislator before they officially begin their parliamentary term.

The development has reignited debate about the cost of governance in Uganda, with civil society actors warning that such expenditures risk undermining public trust and diverting resources from critical social services.

As the 12th Parliament prepares to convene, the question remains whether such early financial assurances will translate into improved service delivery—or further fuel perceptions that public office is increasingly lucrative at the expense of taxpayers.

You can see how much MPs earn in allowances and salary every month, as well as about Museveni’s best paid advisor earning Shs100m every month Here and There.

Watch more on this story HERE.